Bible Strands
Galatians 3:18
For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian churches to clarify the relationship between Mosaic law and God’s covenant with Abraham. He writes this during his defense of justification by faith, immediately after noting the law’s arrival 430 years after the covenant was established.
The words — The Greek phrase ἐκ νόμου (ek nomou) literally means "by law," while κληρονομιά (klēronomia) translates to "inheritance." Paul pairs these terms to contrast legal obligation with divine grant.
The thread — This legal versus promise dynamic appears in Romans 4:13, which states Abraham’s heirship came through promise, not law, and in Galatians 2:21, where Paul rejects righteousness through law to preserve grace. Hebrews 6:12 also traces the same inheritance to faith and patience rather than legal achievement.
Why it lands — The text states that inheritance cannot originate from the law if it also stems from a promise, noting God gave it to Abraham freely. It requires a reader to abandon reliance on legal performance to accept a grant that operates entirely on divine initiative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Cross-references
- Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
- Hebrews 6:12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- Psalms 105:42 For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.
- Psalms 105:6 O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
- Luke 1:54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
- Luke 1:72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
- Romans 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?